Colleen D Holland at a glance
- Current role
- Recalled U.S. Magistrate Judge
- Current assignment
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York
- Jurisdiction
- New York · Federal
- Judicial service
- Active
Colleen D Holland
Recalled U.S. Magistrate Judge · U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York
Service record and verification
Judicial service and assignments
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York · U.S. Magistrate Judge · Recalled · Assignment source ↗
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York · U.S. Magistrate Judge · Active · Assignment source ↗
Appointment and verification
- Source authority
- Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts
Biography
Professional career
- Holland has been deeply involved in the federal court system since 2014, initially as a law clerk and later as special counsel
- Colleen D. Holland was selected as a magistrate judge for the Western District of New York, filling the vacancy created by the retirement of Magistrate Judge Marian W. Payson, effective January 4, 2025
- On September 11, 2023, President Joe Biden nominated Holland to serve as a judge on the United States District Court for the Western District of New York
Education
Additional information
- She graduated summa cum laude from Cornell Law School in 2010, where she was first in her class.
- Began her legal career in private practice in Rochester, NY, working at firms including Nixon Peabody LLP, LeClairRyan, P.C., and Boylan Code LLP
- Prior to her appointment, she held the role of special counsel to Chief Judge Elizabeth A. Wolford and has extensive experience working within the WDNY court system
- Holland was born in Rochester, New York, and grew up in a working-class family in Cortland, NY.
Applicable Court Rules & Procedures
Remote appearances
Courtwide
In federal district-court civil proceedings, testimony is ordinarily taken in open court; remote contemporaneous testimony requires good cause in compelling circumstances and appropriate safeguards.
For good cause in compelling circumstances and with appropriate safeguards, the court may permit testimony in open court by contemporaneous transmission from a different location.Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 43(a), Testimony in Open Court ↗
Recording and broadcasting
Courtwide
Federal district courts may not permit courtroom photography or broadcasting during criminal judicial proceedings unless a statute or another federal rule provides an exception.
Except as otherwise provided by a statute or these rules, the court must not permit the taking of photographs in the courtroom during judicial proceedings or the broadcasting of judicial proceedings from the courtroom.Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 53, Courtroom Photographing and Broadcasting Prohibited ↗
Published courtroom rules
Judge and named-part rules
Published judge / part rules (8 excerpts)
See document heading and cited passage; do not apply outside the issuing part or proceeding.
Official rules document ↗ · Collected 2026-10-27
Motion practice
Unless previously provided with a date by the Court, motions shall not contain return dates. The Court will generally enter a motion scheduling order, but in the event one is not entered, the default deadlines set forth in Local Rules of Civil Procedure 5.5 and 7 and Local Rule of Criminal Procedure 12 shall apply. Oral argument is not required on every motion. The Court will schedule oral argument when it determines that argument may be helpful to resolution of the motion.
Source page web_or_saved_captureCommunications with chambers
Requests to exceed the page limits set forth in Local Rule of Civil Procedure 7 and Local Rule of Criminal Procedure 12 may be made by letter request submitted to Chambers, with copies to all counsel and self-represented parties, at least one business day before the filing deadline. The request shall specify the number of additional pages requested.
Source page web_or_saved_captureMotion practice
Citations to legal authority should be included in the text of the memoranda of law, not in footnotes. Judge Holland requires courtesy copies of motion papers filed in CM/ECF. When the copies are voluminous, the Court requests that courtesy copies be three-hold punched, tabbed, and placed in three-ring binders.
Source page web_or_saved_captureAdjournments
Judge Holland follows the requirements of Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, which provide that a schedule may be modified only for good cause and with the Court’s consent. When parties agree on a request for an extension, they should send a letter request to Judge Holland. A formal motion is not necessary. If seeking to extend a criminal appearance or deadline, such request shall address the exclusion of time from the Speedy Trial Act calendar. All letter requests for an adjournment or extension in a criminal matter should be e-filed as a motion on CM/ECF. All letter requests for an adjournment or an extension in a civil matter should be sent by mail, email to holland@nywd.uscourts.gov , facsimile or hand delivery.
Source page web_or_saved_captureAdjournments
In the absence of consent by opposing counsel, a motion for adjournment or extension of time must be filed with the Court. Discovery Disputes
Source page web_or_saved_captureMotion practice
If a discovery dispute arises, the parties shall initially advise the Court of the dispute via letter (not to exceed four single-spaced pages), with copies to all counsel and self-represented parties. All letters should be sent by mail, email to holland@nywd.uscourts.gov , facsimile or hand delivery. Upon review of the letter, Judge Holland will generally schedule a conference with the parties to attempt to settle the dispute informally. If the dispute is not resolved informally, the parties will have the opportunity to file a formal motion. This informal discovery dispute process is not expedited motion practice. Therefore, letter submissions should provide a brief overview of the issue with supporting documentation and the parties' positions. Parties do not waive arguments by failing to raise them in their letter submissions.
Source page web_or_saved_captureCommunications with chambers
For conferences in civil matters, parties may request to participate via telephone by submitting a letter request to Chambers, with copies to all counsel and self-represented parties, at least two business days in advance of the conference. All letter requests should be sent by mail, email to holland@nywd.uscourts.gov , facsimile or hand delivery.
Source page web_or_saved_captureMotion practice
The Court strongly encourages litigants to permit more junior members of the litigation team to examine witnesses at trial and hearings, and to appear for oral argument before the Court. Indeed, in those instances where the Court is inclined to rule on the papers, a representation that the argument would be handled by a more junior lawyer will weigh in favor of holding oral argument. In addition, under circumstances where the more junior attorney is permitted to present the argument to the Court, the Court will entertain reasonable requests for the more senior attorney to supplement any argument that is made. The Court believes it is crucial to provide substantive speaking opportunities to young lawyers, and that the benefits of doing so will accrue to all members of the profession and their clients. Thus, the Court encourages all lawyers practicing before it to keep this goal in mind. It is the way one generation will teach the next to try cases and to maintain our district’s reputation for excellence in trial practice.
Source page web_or_saved_captureShared court rules
Northern District of New York — Local Rules of Practice
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York
NDNY federal district-court proceedings only; preserve civil, criminal and specialized-section limits.
Official source ↗ · Collected 2026-10-27Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, December 1, 2025
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York
Civil actions in United States District Courts; Rule 81 exceptions apply. Section-specific exceptions, waivers, later amendments and case orders remain applicable. This is a source excerpt, not an exhaustive statement of the rule.
Official source ↗ · Collected 2026-10-27Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, December 1, 2025
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York
Criminal proceedings in United States District Courts; this conservative mapping does not distribute appellate-specific provisions to appellate judges. Section-specific exceptions, waivers, later amendments and case orders remain applicable. This is a source excerpt, not an exhaustive statement of the rule.
Official source ↗ · Collected 2026-10-27Sources
Identity source checked July 29, 2026.
Biography sources checked July 29, 2026.
U.S. Courts judicial profile or roster
Identity source · HTML · Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts · Source checked July 29, 2026
View U.S. Courts judicial profile or roster ↗Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 43(a), Testimony in Open Court
Courtwide source · HTML · Supreme Court of the United States and Judicial Conference of the United States · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 43(a), Testimony in Open Court ↗Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 53, Courtroom Photographing and Broadcasting Prohibited
Courtwide source · HTML · Supreme Court of the United States and Judicial Conference of the United States · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 53, Courtroom Photographing and Broadcasting Prohibited ↗